BALLYCASTLE GAELS
It was a busy week of league action for the BallyCastle Gaels U12s, U14’s and minors.
Hard luck to our U12 footballers who unfortunately came up short in their football league final against St Peters, on Monday night, September 5th in Liscarroll. All performed admirably and were a credit to their club.
Well done to the U14 hurlers who won their semi-final to qualify through to the league final.
Great win also for the minor team in their league encounter with Doneraile. Well done lads
Junior B County Final Congratulations
Well done to our minor panel members Jake Mehigan, Robert Campbell and Robert O’Gorman on winning County Junior “B” Football Championship medals last weekend with Ballyhooly. Also to our minor coaches Darragh O’Reilly and girls U8 coach Mike Whelan who both played on the winning team and to Joe Dowling who was part of the back room staff.
Congratulations to all involved with the historic win. It was a great performance and a true inspiration to our juvenile members in attendance and we wish the team all the best in their remaining upcoming fixtures this season.
Under 12s
Ballycastle u12s footballers played extremely well when going down to a physically stronger St Peters team in the final of the U12 football on Monday night. All players on the 20 persons panel played their first final on the night and contested to the end.
In the first half the defence and captain Richard in goals held St Peters to 3 pts with Mark scoring a lovely point from centre back. Oisin and Eoin took turns between midfield and full back as they curbed St Peters danger men. Cian was exceptional in the sweeper role bringing the ball out from defence on many occasions.
The second half again started quite tight but after 10 minutes , St Peters broke through for the open goal. Our heads didn’t drop and a flowing move from the back finished with Ronan finishing the ball to the net with great excitement on and off the field. However, on the warm evening tiredness became a factor and St Peters got in for a second goal to run out winners in the end.
The team has made great progress with football skills improving significantly throughout the year. Thanks to all parents, supporters and friends that travelled to Liscarroll on Monday night to cheer on the team.
Under 13s
Best of luck to our U13 hurlers taking on Ballygiblin in their U13B hurling final in Kilworth this Saturday September 10th, throw in at 4.15pm. All support appreciated, best of luck lads.
Under 14s
The U14s were back in to the fray at the weekend, facing Granard Gaels in the league semi-final in Ballyhea on Saturday, Sept 3rd. This is the last competition of the season for this group and following good performances in the league to date, hopes were high the lads would continue their good form and secure a place in the final.
The early exchanges were tight and tense with both teams scoring early points. From there, an early goal from Dylan helped to settle nerves and by half time, BallyCastle had found the net four times in all, with a hat trick from Dylan and a lovely opportunist finish from Sean O’Riordan, seeing BallyCastle enter half-time with a commanding 4-08 to 0-04 lead.
The second half saw Granard Gaels emerge a much different team and they put it up to our lads. It was pleasing to see BallyCastle able to respond to this and the backs at this stage took over and ensured there was no easy route to goal for the opposition. A goal from Dylan, combined with some good points from Darragh and Gearoid kept Granard Gaels at arms length.
To their credit, the Curchtown/Liscarroll outfit did register a couple of late goals but it was fitting that man of the match Sean O’Riordan finished the scoring with a composed finish to the net following a lovely inside pass from Gearoid.
At the full time whistle, it BallyCastle Gaels who emerged victorious on a scoreline of 6-14 to 2-06, and in so doing qualified for the final of the league competition, with the opponents to be decided from the other side of the draw. It is not clear yet when this match will be played but the lads will now put the heads down and get some good training in to the legs in preparation for the final. Well done on a great achievement lads and we all look forward to the final.
Panel: Dan Cooney, Noah O’Brien, Sean Sugrue, Jeff Gowen, Eoin Twomey, Colm Crowley, Cathal Wilson, Aiden O’Leary, Dylan Collins, Dan Roche, Gearoid Roche, Darragh Whelan, Sean O’Riordan, Ben McCarthy, Luke Cotter, Fionn Hess, Luke Burdett, Timmy Sheehan, Barry Geary, Brian O’Driscoll and Rob Attwood.
Minors
The minors played two games in the football league in recent weeks and have recorded a win from each.
BallyCastle Gaels 4-9 St. Kevins 2-14
The first game versus St Kevins was a close run contest with BallyCastle coming out on top by just one point. In the opening half the teams exchanged points for the first fifteen minutes as Niall Hazelwood, Richard Lombard and Seamus Roche kept BallyCastle ticking over from play and St Kevin’s scored their two points from play and two from frees.
Kevin’s goaled on the eighteenth minute but this was immediately cancelled out by Dylan O’Connor’s first goal of the game in the nineteenth minute. The teams continued to battle for the last ten minutes of the half but BallyCastle only gained one further Dylan O’Connor point from play while St. Kevins finished in a flourish scoring four points in the last minutes. Score at half time BallyCastle Gaels 1-4 St. Kevins 1-8.
As the second half began BallyCastle took the upper hand. Within ten minutes Niall Hazelwood had 1-1 scored and Dylan O’Connor had 1-2 to his credit. Kevins first point of the half didn’t come until the eleventh minute and was immediately cancelled out by Seamus Roche at the other end. BallyCastle were now up five points. For the next ten minutes St. Kevins played football and scored 1-4, while a Robert O’Gorman point was all BallyCastle added on. The teams were level at BallyCastle Gaels 3-9 to St. Kevins 2-12 and there was just over five minutes to go. Kevins added on a point but a Dylan O’Connor goal put BallyCastle back in front with three minutes on the clock. Kevins scored one more point to bring the gap to the minimum but BallyCastle had done enough to hold on to this one point lead and a deserved victory. Final score BallyCastle Gaels 4-9(21) St. Kevins 2-14(20).
Team: B. O’Connor, L. Sugrue, Ml. O’Connor, R. Campbell, S. Roche (0-2), T. Crowley, F. McGrath, R. Lombard (0-1), R. O’Gorman (0-1), N. Hazelwood (1-2), R. Daly, T. Barrett, J. Roche and D. O’Connor(3-3,0-1f). Subs: L. McGrath, M.O’Connor and E. Buckley(injured).
Ballycastle Gaels 3-11 Doneraile 1-6
In their second football league tie BallyCastle met Doneraile. The first half was a tight affair with Doneraile gaining a slight advantage after twenty minutes. They were up 1-3 to BallyCastles 1-2 after Dylan O’Connor scored 1-1 and a point each from Dylan Walsh and Niall Hazelwood. For the last ten minutes of the half BallyCastle improved their performance and scored four points; two from Dylan O’Connor and one each from Niall Hazelwood and Richard Lombard. BallyCastle now led Doneraile by 1-6 to 1-4 at the break.
BallyCastle continued in scoring mode in the second half. Dylan O’Connor was prolific scoring 2-4 of the 2-5 total scored in the second half while Dylan Walsh added the extra point. Doneraile scored just two points in the second half; one on the second and one on the twenty first minute. This gave BallyCastle Gaels a comprehensive win of 3-11 to 1-6.
Team: B. O’Connor, L. Sugrue, T. Crowley, E. Buckley, R. Campbell, Ml. O’Connor, S. Roche, D. Walsh (0-2), R. Lombard (0-1), L. McGrath, N. Hazelwood (0-2,0-1f), R. O’Gorman, R. Daly and D. O’Connor (3-6,0-2f), J. Roche. Subs: T. Barrett, D. Peckeliunas, M. O’Connor and F. McGrath(injured).
Just one game remains for BallyCastle Gaels in this football league versus Dromtariffe before it reaches the final stages. It’s back to hurling for this panel now as they prepare for a hurling league semi-final v Ballycosgrey Rovers. A date has yet to be fixed for this game.
This Week’s Fixtures:
Sat 10/09: U13B HL Final v Ballygiblin in Kilworth, 4.15pm (tbc).
Note – Rebel Og meeting on Weds night.
All other fixtures will only be known after the board meeting Wednesday night, so please watch out for updates on Facebook or text alerts.
Note – games are subject to change and players will be made aware of changes via text.
